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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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Sulky.

` Patented'Apri 5,1881.

. used in sulkies.

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

FRIAR TERBSH, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM L.UTLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

SULKY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent ,No. 239,885, dated April5, 1881.

Application filed January 20, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRIAR TERBUSH, a citi-Zen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racineand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sulkies; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enableothers skilled inthe art to which it appel'.- tains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersor figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in sulkies for trotting or racingpurposes; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide alight, strong arched axle, which will permit the horse to be broughtcloser to the sulky than heretofore, so as to lessen the swinging orswaying of the sulky in making turns; second, to secure the attachmentof the whiifletree in the rear of the axle.

In the drawings, Figure l is arperspective front view of a sulkyconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear viewof the same; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views of the axle andwhiffletree, showing, respectively, a plan and rear elevation of thesame.

The letter A designates a bent or arched axletree, the bend or curvatureof which is considerably greater than in axles heretofore 'This willenable the horse to be brought hack nearer thev axle-tree, which may betermed the fulcrum-point, lessenin g theuswinging or swaying of thesulky in passy ing turns of the track. It will be obvious that thislessening of the swinging movement is very advantageous, as theliability of the horse to break is frequently caused by the swinging orswaying of the sulky.

Above the axle, and following the curvature thereof, is arrangeda bentpiece of wood or steel, B, forming a truss. The central portion of thistruss is more bent than the axle, and is held at a suitable distanceabove the same by means of a central post, H, secured to the axle andtruss by means of a bolt, I, passing (No model.)

through these parts. -The ends of the truss lie upon the axle, and aresecured thereto by means of clips G. The object of the truss is toena-ble the axle to be made lighter than heretofore, giving it at thesame time additional strength, and preserving the form or curvature ofthe axle.

The whiffletree C is constructed of a bent piece of wood, and itgradually curves forward from its fulcrum-point, which is located inrear of the axle instead of being in front thereof, as in ordinarysulkies. The aforesaid bolt I, which secures the post H, also serves tohold in position a block, J, which extends in a rearward direction fromthe axle tree, and to which the whiffletree is bolted or fulcrumed.

The letter K designates the shafts, which are supported by means of bentwooden brackets D, fastened to the under side thereof by means of bolts`or otherwise, and secured to the under side ot' the axle by means ofclips. This coiist-ruction will insure alight and stron g attachment ofthe shafts to the axle. Additional small brace-rods may also be used forobtaining greater strength.

The seat, instead of being supported by a bar and iron posts, asiscustomary in common sulkies, rests upon arched or curved standard bracesor supports E F, which are secured to the shafts, and are bent upwardtherefrom to a sufficient height so as to give the proper elevation tothe seat. The braces or seatsup ports extending from one shaft to theother, as shown, constitute a firm foundation for the seat, and alsoserve the purpose of braces for the shafts.

It Will 4be obvious that the presence of the standard-braces raises thesea-t out of the way of the horses hook, which is not the case withseats supported in the ordinary manner. The standard-braces, by reasonof their arched or curved shape, will give more room for the action ofthe horse; and are much lighter than the cross-bars and iron postsgenerally used.

A longitudinal piece of wood, L, is framed into the standard-braces,thereby forming an entire platform for the seat. The seat can beadjusted on this platform by means of holes in the same through which abolt on the seat is passed.

the seat can be brought forward or backward 5 to suit the driver.

I claim iseentral post, H, and end clips, in combination 1o with thecurved or arched axle A, as and for Jche purpose set forth.

2. In a sulky, the combination of the rearwardly-extendingsupporting-block J and the By shifting1 the bolt into the differentholes axle-bolt I with the axle A and the curved of the axle, all as andfor the purpose set forth. ln testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

FRIAR TERBUSH.

Having thus described my invention, what 1. In a sulky, the arched orcurved truss B,

Witnesses:

JOHN l. JONES, ERAsTUs C. PEoK.

Whifietree, pivoted to said block iu the rear 15

